Activating tools (keyboard shortcuts)

Note:

You can activate some tools only under certain circumstances.
For example, you can activate a camera tool only when the active
composition contains a camera layer.

To momentarily activate a tool with a single-letter
keyboard shortcut, hold down the key; release the key to return
to the previously active tool. To activate a tool and keep it active,
press the key and immediately release it.

On Mac OS, some keyboard commands used to interact with the operating system conflict with keyboard commands for interacting with After Effects. Select Use System Shortcut Keys in the General preferences to override the After Effects keyboard command in some cases in which there’s a conflict with the Mac OS keyboard command.